Stories of
American Heroes -
Brought to you from the "Home of Heroes" - Pueblo, Colorado

George Kretsinger

TAPS

Fading light dims the sight,
And a star gems the sky,
Gleaming bright.
From afar drawing nigh,
Falls the night.

Day is done, gone the sun,
From the lake, From the hills,
From the sky.
All is well, safely rest,
God is nigh.

Then good night, Peaceful night,
Till the light of the dawn
Shineth bright,
God is near, do not fear,
Friend, good night.

Rose Hill Cemetery

Born:June 20, 1844 at Fairfield, NY

Entered
Service in the US Army from Chicago, IL

Earned The Medal of Honor During the Civil War For heroism
May 22, 1863 at Vicksburg, MS

Died:April 20, 1906 at the age of 61

The Vicksburg
campaign was waged from March 29 to July 4, 1863. It included
battles in west-central Mississippi at Port Gibson, Raymond,
Jackson, Champion Hill, Big Black River and numerous smaller
battle fields. On the morning of May 22, General Grant launched
what he hoped would be a crushing assault against Vicksburg. In
the fighting that followed, the Union Infantry was repulsed and
thrown back along a three-mile front. The Union Army suffered
more than 3,000 casualties, and 97 Union soldiers earned Medals
of Honor (the second largest single-day total in history.)
Private George Kretsinger, with a few comrades, carried a cannon
forward by hand and fired it through an embrasure of the enemy's
works. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for this action along
with his comrades: Captain Patrick White, Corporals James Dunne
and Winthrop Putnam, and Privates Charles Kloth, Patrick
McGuire, and William Stephens. Following the failed assault on
May 22, a forty-seven day siege was laid against the city, which
finally surrendered to Union forces on July 4.